Hoarding and Investing

A 1985 rock song became the #1 song for 3 weeks and was the most successful single by this British band. It told the story of 2 men working in an appliance store and while they were pushed to sell microwave ovens, then noticed musicians on the TV who appeared to get money for nothing.

Fast Forward 3½ decades and the concept of money for nothing seems to be spreading. From the welfare safety net of previous generations, new ideas include a Living Wage, a Livable Wage, and Guaranteed minimum income. These ideas differ based upon “basic needs”, “decent standard of living”, and eligibility conditions.

I admit that I cashed our first stimulus checks and under previous administrations we claimed Earned Income Tax Credits that were not wages for work performed. I’m not trying to be critical of all labor and tax policies, what I want us to think about is how the idea of “I deserve to be rewarded apart from my efforts” is contrary to the teaching in today’s Scripture text.

We have students who work very hard for the high grades they receive at school. We have other students who work very hard and still only receive acceptable marks due to their learning styles and other factors. The disruption of classroom instruction has just multiplied the frustration of those who want learning to happen, vs. those who just want to float through without any effort.

Jesus told another parable about workers who all got a full day’s wage, even if they only worked part of the day. However, in that story all were willing to work. Nobody stayed home and expected to be on payroll.

Also Matthew records a similar story, yet in Matt’s account one servant is given 4 years wages, one is given 10 years wages, and one is given 20 years wages. In Luke’s telling of this parable 10 men are each is given a coin equal to roughly 100 days wages. Each man here is given the same opportunity, and each treats it differently.

Transition: Let’s begin by looking at…

A King and His Assignments (19:11-15)

Kingdom Building is a Timely Process

1. Jesus said back in 10:9, 11 that the Kingdom had come near. 19:11 reveals that they supposed it would appear immediately.

2. Dangerous things happen when we suppose to know the will of God.

I think many of us could honestly say along with the musical group Casting Crowns, “I was sure by now God, You would have reached down and wiped our tears away; stepped in and saved the day.

3. Regime change does not happen immediately—Even the surprising swiftness of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan continues to take time as leaders purge dissidents and seek recognition by the world community.

Jesus peppers the parable with current events to hold interest

· Herod the great had 2 sons (Archelaus and Antipas) who each assumed they would inherit their father’s dominion. They both went to Rome for one of them to be named King. But they were both sent back to their “middle management” roles—Archelaus ruled ethnic Jews, and Antipas was one of 5 territorial governors. Both of these were hated by the Jews of Palestine.

Transition: While the process can take years, recognition is given to those who contribute to the process.

Faithful Servants Receive Rewards (19:15-19)

The King Expected Progress (v.15)

1. Gained – he doesn’t return to inquire if they gained or lost. He doesn’t return to inquire about the choices they made. He expects to celebrate their victories.

2. Do we expect less of ourselves, than God does? Do we wallow in the mire of defeat when He has made us more than conquerors? Do we breakdown in our losses like Peter when he denied Christ 3 times? Or do we hear the restoring and re-establishing call of our Savior who says, “tend my lambs”?

A line from p. 127 of Os Guinness’s book The Call rings in my ears: “We are responsible because we are response-able. Between the first word of God’s creation and the last word of his judgment our ways of life are our response to God’s Word to us”.

3. Rather than blaming others, or circumstances, God will hold each of us to give an account. And account of our response to His gift and calling.

4. God desires that Truth would replace the lies we believe and that we would gain by doing life His way.

5. I noticed the difference in commendations for the one who made 10 and the one who gained 5. Notice that the one who returned 5 was never compared to the one who earned 10.

6. God puts us in different situations with different opportunities. Some may be more productive than others but this is NOT a comparison game. The King’s question is simply, what have you done with what I entrusted to you? You will be rewarded according to your initiative.

7. Do any of our younger children remember what initiative is from Wednesday night? I saw a poster in Room #3 that said “Initiative is seeing what needs to be done and doing it.”

A Noble Motivation

1. Just as this parable highlights that when the King returns, things get better for his faithful servants, we must hold on in faith to the promise that Jesus will reward us according to our faithfulness.

2. John recorded Jesus’ promise

Revelation 22:12 ESV:2016

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

3. Even to the church at Corinth that got a lot of things wrong, Paul wrote

1 Corinthians 3:14 ESV:2016

14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

4. At the end of Paul’s ministry, he verbalized his hope

2 Timothy 4:8 ESV:2016

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

5. Finally, in the verse following the one that our children are memorizing this month in Kid’s Club.

Colossians 3:24 ESV:2016

24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Transition: From varying rewards, the story continues with a principle that,,,

Feeble Servants Are Judged Fairly (19:20-26)

Severe does not imply mean or crooked (v.21)

1. The word Luke uses here would be well understood by a physician. It means “to being strict in requirement, used especially of persons who practice rigid personal discipline or are strict in the supervision of others”[i]

Have you ever been told by a pharmacist that it was too early to fill a prescription? They are required by license to keep close account of dosage so that abuse or unintended consequences do not happen.

2. This man’s challenge is not that he is being held to an unfair standard, but that he allowed fear to keep him from doing what was wise.

3. Fear can be a strong contributor to our disobedience.

a. Fear of embarrassment keeps us from trying a new ministry.

b. Fear of not knowing the answer keeps us from evangelizing our neighbor.

c. Fear of failure keeps us from stepping out in faith.

d. Fear of shame keeps us from tackling that hurt, hang-up or habit.

Limited loss (v.24)

1. The frightened/feeble servant lost use of the mina, but he did not lose his place in the kingdom!

2. Because our place in God’s Kingdom is totally paid for by the obedience of Christ unto death, we are in the privileged position of nothing to prove, nothing to lose, everything to gain.

Over 70 years ago Jim Elliot wrote in his journal after graduating from Wheaton College, “He is no fool wo gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

3. Motivational speakers have been known to inspire imagination by asking, “what endeavor would you undertake if you were guaranteed not to lose?”

Way back in the early 1900’s William Bordan wrote 3 lines in the back of his Bible: No Reserves (there would be no plan B), No Retreat (His move to the mission field could never be undone) and No Regrets (He did not question any of his decisions to trust God).

Application

1. What treasures, talents, or relationships have you allowed fear to keep you from surrendering to the Lord’s use?

2. What initiatives have been prompted by God’s Spirit that you have allowed fear to squash?

3. What is the specific area where you sense this morning that God is calling you to exchange your fear for faithfulness?

Transition: We have already seen Faithful and Fearful servants within the kingdom, but what about those outside of the Kingdom? Jesus concluded the parable by saying that…

Enemies are Judged Finally (19:27)

1. I mentioned earlier that being responsible to God’s call is based in being response able.

2. We are able to respond in fear or faith.

3. Some respond to His offer of Lordship with rejection and to those who reject Christ as master, He does not force himself.

4. God isn’t going to force you into Heaven, but one thing you need to know about Heaven is that Jesus is king there!

5. The slaughtering of detractors is what happened to those who opposed Herod’s sons.

6. Agony and spiritual death is what happens to all who decide they do not want Christ to reign over them.

Conclusion:

I chose to title this sermon with words that most of us tie to financial decisions. But at their root, hoarding and investing are a contrast between fear and hope.

Fear moves us to withdraw, withhold, and willow.

Hope propels us to risk, to faith, and initiative.

Faith moves us to do what needs doing. As followers of Christ, we never retreat until the things He asks us to do get done.

[i] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 151.